freeatlast
New Member
In 1 Timothy 3:1-13 it give the qualifications for Pastors and deacons. What do you feel should be some reasons why a church should ask a Pastor or deacon to step down or for them to resign on their own?
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Pastors and Deacons
- Thread starter freeatlast
- Start date
saturneptune
New Member
The qualifications for deacon and pastor are listed for everyone to see, and before they were elected by a local church, that church examimed them. The whole premise of the thread is way off base. Why would you start a thread assuming an ordained deacon or pastor had done something or is doing something different in their life than when elected?
If the person has fallen into sin that disqualifies him according to Scripture, he will know it is time to resign. If the church must take action, it does not ask him to resign. The church elected the person, and the church can unelect the person in accordance with the local church bylaws.
I would think one of the major reasons a person from such an office should resign is the inability to understand Scripture.
SN, could you enlarge on that a little? Perhaps give us some examples?
saturneptune
New Member
Yes, to be quite clear, in 1 Tim 3, two of the qualifications listed for overseer is the ability to teach and not a novice. It also says deacons must hold to the mysteries of the faith, and be tested. It seems that in other threads such as this, the emphasis is always on the dos and donts of the verses. Understanding Scripture in its context and the ability to know what God is saying to us while leaving out ones opinion is just as important as all the moral aspects of the ministry.
When a pastor allows false teachings into the church, it's time for him to resign or be fired. We had a teacher in one church who was teaching the kids to speak in tongues. She was told to resign as a teacher.It is not just pastors and deacons who can go wrong. There are other in leadership or important positions in a church who can head down the wrong road and lead the church the wrong way.
When the elder is no longer "Blameless" (in other words, violates something on the list of characteristics/qualifications and will not repent/change) he has de facto forfeited the right to be an elder.
He just step down. Actually, he should repent and straighten out the situation as soon as its recognized. Only a major, continuous, willful breach of an area on that list should be considered significant for resignation.
He just step down. Actually, he should repent and straighten out the situation as soon as its recognized. Only a major, continuous, willful breach of an area on that list should be considered significant for resignation.
Amen - Jon-Marc. A few years back when I was training a brother to teach Children's Church one of the kids asked where the devil came from.
This brother told the boy that God had made man slightly higher than the angels and since Satan was the highest Angel he refused to worship man. Therefore God threw him out of heaven. I was like "What!".
I felt obligated to let the pastor know that this man wasn't qualified to teach. The pastor did his best to teach this man in a gentle way, but he got his feelings hurt and left the church.
I hated to see him go because he obviously needed some sound biblical teaching.
Last edited by a moderator:
freeatlast
New Member
You stared out so good and then you said this;
" Only a major, continuous, willful breach of an area on that list should be considered significant for resignation." If that be the case he could be marrie3d and divorce many times over before he is disqualified.
Your wording is way too strong based on the scripture word for "blameless."
What ever the qualifications are for becoming a deacon or Pastor the same parameters for removing one should be the same. The term blameless means that no one, from within the church or outside the church, can point to any ongoing flaw in this man in regards to his holiness. His life is in order as well as the life of his wife and children which shows that he can lead. I am afraid that we have lowered the standards that the Lord has set and now we are seeing the results.
freeatlast
New Member
I htink you are living in a dream world. Pastors as well as deacons today do fall into temptations. The sad fact is that most churches today do not follow through on disciplin as they should.
saturneptune
New Member
I htink (think) you cannot spell or understand Scripture. Dr. Bob's post was exactly right, yours was not, as in other threads. You fail to realize that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Pastors and deacons are human just like everyone else. Disqualification is based on one of the qualifications being violated in an ongoing manner, without repentance. That is not a lowering of standards.
You also fail to acknowledge the authority of the local church in all of this. It is hard to exchange ideas with someone who thinks like a Pharisee. "Lowering of standards" as you put it is not a synonym for your misunderstanding of Scripture. You could learn lots from Dr. Bob's posts.
By the way, have you ever been a pastor or deacon? It sounds from your posts like you would be the first elected because of your sterling morality. The problem is with the first two words of your post, "I think." You do not.